LAW FIRM: NO CRIMES WERE COMMITTED UNDER GOTOVINA'S COMMAND

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Hina) - No war crimes were committed nor was international humanitarian law violated under General Ante Gotovina's command, read a press release Hina received on Tuesday from the Pedersen & Haupt law firm, which states it is the Croatian general's representative. Signed by attorney Luka Misetic, the release describes allegations in some Croatian media to the effect that Gotovina was responsible for war crimes as "false", in particular accusations that "the shelling of Knin during Operation Storm violated international humanitarian law." The 1995 operation liberated parts of Croatian territory which had been occupied by Croatian Serb rebels. The law firm recalls a March 1999 New York Times article which, according to the letter, reported that the "Pentagon submitted a report to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICTY (Hague war crimes tribunal) in which the Pentagon confirms that it has analysed the shelling of Knin and determined that no violations of international humanitarian law were committed." The press release adds that the United States "is in the best position to analyse the legitimacy of Operation Storm," and that accusations against General Gotovina should stop. "No war crimes or other violations of international humanitarian law occurred under the command of General Ante Gotovina," the release concluded. (hina) ha